Average Number of Horses Slaughtered Per Year

Unwanted horses in USA

33,000

Estimated number of horse that can be managed by existing rescues in the USA

2,485

Estimated cost to care for a horse in the USA for one year

RESCUE 101

EquineRescueNetwork

There are over 160,000 horses this year that are at risk of slaughter. Reports have shown that over 92% of these horses are serviceably sound for continued use. Given the glut of unwanted horses, it still is hard to find the right horse for each owner. The best advice is to rescue a horse because you want to save a life, not because you are looking for your next grande prix jumper. The horse you rescue may arrive unhealthy, unsound or in need of training.

DONATE AND SUBSCRIBE

All proceeds go to help horses

All proceeds go to help horses. All donation funds go toward helping slaughter-bound, neglected, abondoned or at risk horses. ERN purchases horses from killbuyers and rehomes them with other 501c3 rescue organizations or approved Micro Rescuers. We have “ground troops” (volunteers) at auctions to outbid killbuyers. ERN helps other 501c3 rescue organizations and at risk horses found neglected or in need of our support.

MICROCHIPS

Introduction to Microchipping

A microchip is the size of a grain of rice. They are easily implanted into a horse using a simple syringe. The microchip is implanted in the nuchal ligamenton the left side of the neck. They are so small; the only way to detect if a horse has a microchip is to use a scanner. A microchip implanted in a horse is of little value unless it used as the lifetime identifying number to connect with a registry or database that contains information on the horse.

EquineRescueNetwork

Where are all these horses coming from?

What you can do to help? If you are a horse owner, you can begin with you. Rehome responsibly: Check References and do a barn visit before you place your horse in the hands of a new owner. Ask to be notified when the new owner rehomes your horse (“First Right of Refusal).

Protect your horse by downloading a Transfer of Ownership template which includes a No Slaughter/No Auction clause.

Never post a Free Horse on Craigslist . It can be an invitation to a killbuyer. Don’t be mistaken, the killbuyers are stealthy – they will promise a good home, where your horse will be forever out to pasture on green grass, but the reality is your free horse will be loaded on a truck to auction or slaughter.

Educate yourself and others on the unwanted horses population. Read “Lost Horses” and learn how to rescue horses from killpens and auctions.

Sign petitions, fight legislation and be active in your community. If you don’t know where your local equine rescue network is check out this Equine Rescue Search Tool.